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<div class="gmail-l-content"><h1><span>Bilingual policy</span></h1><div class="gmail-paragraph gmail-paragraph--content gmail-content"><p><span><span><span>Erasmus
University Rotterdam (EUR) is a bilingual university, which uses both
Dutch and English. This policy was introduced in 2015 and now needs an
update. </span></span></span></p><h2><span><span><span>What does the current bilingual policy look like?</span></span></span></h2><ul><li><p><span><span><span><span>Command of English and Dutch related to job level</span></span></span></span><br><span><span><span><span>EUR
encourages all Dutch speaking staff to be able to speak and write
English at a satisfactory level, according to its importance for their
job. English speaking staff are expected to have a satisfactory command
of Dutch if this is required in their job. With respect to English
speaking staff working in an English speaking environment, EUR wants to
enable them to master the basic principles of the Dutch language. The
starting point here is that it is important to be able to communicate
and also feel at home in Dutch speaking environments.</span></span></span></span><br> </p></li><li><span><span><span><span>Extra attention for support staff<br>Academics
are accustomed to using English, but this is not (yet) the case for
support staff. Extra support is therefore provided for this group, with
language tests and additional language training, if necessary, to raise
the level (of English and Dutch) to fulfil the requirements for their
position. The goal is for all support staff to achieve that level by the
end of 2018! Wherever this is desirable for their work, EUR will give
staff members the opportunity to improve their language skills.<br> </span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>Language matrix<br>The
desired language level for each member of staff is based on a
combination of job, work level and ‘Dutchness’ or ‘Englishness’ of the
working environment (what are the language requirements of the working
environment?) and is determined using the following language matrix. The
English language environment is determined by:</span></span></span></span><ul><li><span><span><span><span>The percentage of non-Dutch speaking students</span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>The percentage of non-Dutch speaking colleagues</span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>The percentage of non-Dutch contacts</span></span></span></span></li><li><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span>The main language used to communicate in the department or faculty</span></span></span><br> </li></ul></li><li><span><span><span><span>Language & Training Centre<br>On the website of the <a href="https://www.eur.nl/en/education/language-training-centre">Language & Training Centre</a>, you can find out what <a href="https://www.eur.nl/en/education/language-training-centre/cefr-levels">CEFR matrix</a> means. It also provides information about support for staff, for example when the next <a href="https://www.eur.nl/en/education/language-training-centre/courses/dutch/dutch-assessment">Language<span><span> Assessment</span></span></a> is taking place or when the next <a href="https://www.eur.nl/en/education/language-training-centre/courses/dutch">Dutch course</a> is being organised.</span></span></span></span></li></ul></div><div class="gmail-l-negate-section-padding gmail-paragraph gmail-paragraph--image gmail-image"> <span> <img src="https://www.eur.nl/sites/corporate/files/styles/desktop_large_16_9_scaled/public/2018-04/Taalmatrix-Engelse-taal.jpg?itok=OaLEsJdy" alt="Taalmatrix - Tweetaligheidsbeleid EUR - Engelse taal" title="Taalmatrix - Tweetaligheidsbeleid EUR - Engelse taal"> </span></div><div class="gmail-paragraph gmail-paragraph--content gmail-content"><h2><span><span><span>How does bilingualism work in practice?</span></span></span></h2><p><span><span><span>Bilingualism
might seem simple, but it can generate questions in concrete
situations. For example, what do you do if, as the only non-Dutch
speaker, you are required to discuss an ICT problem with 30 delegates
from other universities? Or you’ve delivered an extensive report to the
Executive Board on the climate in the buildings and the University
Council wants to receive an English version of that report too? </span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span>Agreements have been reached on how to behave in such situations: </span></span></span></p><ol><li><span><span><span><span>Everyone
is expected to understand written and spoken text in English/Dutch.
People speak the language that is preferred, but we use English or Dutch
if this is specifically required in your job. </span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>In
meetings where one or more non-Dutch speaker is present, the language
used is English, unless those present have sufficient passive knowledge
of Dutch. In principle, everyone must be able to follow the meeting. The
chair determines the language(s) in which the minutes are written,
taking into account (possible) further distribution of the report.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>Everyone
working at EUR (staff as well as external parties e.g. the caterers)
are expected to have a command of English which corresponds to the
guidelines in the language matrices (see illustration). </span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>Non-Dutch
speakers who are employed for longer than 1 year are given support in
learning Dutch (at basic level). Unless command of Dutch is a specific
requirement in their job, they are expected to fulfil the guidelines in
the language matrix within 2 years. </span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>Non-Dutch
speakers who expect to stay in the Netherlands for longer than four
years are provided support in learning Dutch up to level B1.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>If
there is a language requirement, the language level on entering
employment is determined (through certificates or tests) and the
education need identified. Staff must have a command of English
corresponding to the level required by their job within 2 years (see
language matrix). </span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>Language is a permanent point of attention in the R&O. </span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>Organisation units must budget for the costs of language education and this is the responsibility for the management.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>Periodically* it is determined what other documents/information:<br>a. Must be available in both Dutch and English<br>b. Which documents must be available in English with a Dutch summary and vice versa </span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>Regulations
are always provided in Dutch and English**. In this case, the documents
in Dutch prevail over those in English. This must also be mentioned in
the English version.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>A
statement of objection or appeal must be submitted in Dutch and
English. The decision relating to the objection/appeal is given in
Dutch, perhaps with a summary in English. Here too, the Dutch versions
will prevail.</span></span></span></span></li><li><span><span><span><span>Hearings
of the Advisory Committee on Administrative Appeals (ACB) and the
Examination Appeal Board (CBE) are in principle held in Dutch***, unless
the president decides otherwise. An interpreter will assist non-Dutch
speaking staff/students.</span></span></span></span></li></ol><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span lang="EN-GB"><span><span>*Once every three years.<br>**With the exception of teaching and exam regulations, the language of which depends on the language used within the programme.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br><span><span><span>***Language
of communication of any follow-up process at the Appeals Tribunal for
Higher Education (CBHO) or Court is only Dutch.</span></span></span></p></div></div>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+<br><br> Harold F. Schiffman<br><br>Professor Emeritus of <br> Dravidian Linguistics and Culture <br>Dept. of South Asia Studies <br>University of Pennsylvania<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305<br><br>Phone: (215) 898-7475<br>Fax: (215) 573-2138 <br><br>Email: <a href="mailto:haroldfs@gmail.com" target="_blank">haroldfs@gmail.com</a><br><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/" target="_blank">http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/</a> <br><br>-------------------------------------------------</div>
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